The
Shūyuàn (书院), usually known in English as
Academies or
Academies of Classical Learning, were a type of school in ancient
ChinaChina is a cultural region, an ancient civilization, and, depending on perspective, a national or multinational entity extending over a large area in East Asia....
. Unlike national academy and district schools,
shuyuan were usually private establishments built away from cities or towns, providing a quiet environment where scholars could engage in studies and contemplation without restrictions and worldly distractions.
The
shuyuan originated in 725 during the
Tang dynastyThe Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
.
The
Shūyuàn (书院), usually known in English as
Academies or
Academies of Classical Learning, were a type of school in ancient
ChinaChina is a cultural region, an ancient civilization, and, depending on perspective, a national or multinational entity extending over a large area in East Asia....
. Unlike national academy and district schools,
shuyuan were usually private establishments built away from cities or towns, providing a quiet environment where scholars could engage in studies and contemplation without restrictions and worldly distractions.
History
The
shuyuan originated in 725 during the
Tang dynastyThe Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
. They were places where scholars could teach and study the classics, and where books collected from around the country could be preserved. By the late Tang dynasty, private academies had appeared all over China.
During the
Northern SongNorthern song is the English title of the popular song of Ruslana, ,Pivnicha....
(960-1127), many academies were established with government encouragement. Each academy had its own teaching and administrative structure and was economically independent.
The bestowal of a calligraphic signboard by the Emperor was an extremely important symbol of an academy's status during the Northern Song period. The following academies received this honour:
- 997: Taishi Academy (Songyang Academy), bestowed by the Taizong
Taizong can be the name of the following Chinese emperors :*Emperor Taizong of Tang *Emperor Taizong of Song...
emperor
- 1009: Yingtianfu Academy, bestowed by the Zhenzong emperor
- 1015: Yuelu Academy
The Yuelu Academy is located on the east side of Yuelu Mountain in Changsha, the capital of Hunan province, China, on the west bank of the Xiang River....
, bestowed by the Zhenzong emperor
- 1035: Shigu Academy, bestowed by the Renzong emperor
Besides signboards, emperors also bestowed books. In 977, the Taizong Emperor bestowed on the
White Deer Grotto AcademyThe White Deer Grotto Academy was located at the foot of Wulou Peak in Lushan, now in Jiujiang, Jiangxi province...
a copy of the Nine Confucian Classics printed by the
GuozijianThe Guozijian , the School of the Sons of State sometimes called the Imperial Central School, Imperial Academy or Imperial College was the national central institute of learning in Chinese dynasties after the Sui...
. The Yuelu Academy, the Songyang Academy and other academies also received books from the Emperor on a number of occasions.
However, academies had begun to decline by the 12th century. The White Deer Grotto Academy, which had fallen into ruin, was rebuilt by the prominent neo-Confucianist
Zhu XiZhu Xi or Chu Hsi was a Song Dynasty Confucian scholar who became the leading figure of the School of Principle and the most influential rationalist Neo-Confucian in China...
in 1179-80 during the Southern Song dynasty and reopened in 1180. It became an important centre of Confucian thought during eight centuries. Zhu Xi himself taught here during the Southern Song as did
Wang YangmingWang Yangming was a Ming Chinese idealist Neo-Confucian philosopher, official, educationist, calligraphist and general. After Zhu Xi, he is commonly regarded as the most important Neo-Confucian thinker, with interpretations of Confucianism that denied the rationalist dualism of the orthodox...
during the Ming. As a result of Zhu Xi's efforts, the
shuyuan became a permanent feature of Chinese education, taking up major responsibilities of local education.
The system of academies was dismantled under the Yuan (Mongol) Dynasty (1271-1368) and all academies were placed under government control to became preparatory schools for the
Imperial ExaminationThe Imperial examinations in Imperial China determined who among the population would be permitted to enter the state's bureaucracy. The Imperial Examination System in China lasted for 1300 years, from its founding during the Sui Dynasty in 605 to its abolition near the end of the Qing Dynasty in...
s. However, the system was revived under the
MingThe Ming Dynasty , or Empire of the Great Ming , was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history," was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...
(1368-1644) and the Qing (1644-1911).
In the Ming dynasty, academies devoted to discussing political issues appeared, such as the
Donglin AcademyThe Donglin Academy , also known as the Guishan Academy , was originally built in A.D. 1111 during the Northern Song dynasty at present-day Wuxi in China...
, often resulting in political repression. According to one study, 40% of the 1239 known Ming academies were built during the
Jiajing eraThe Jiajing Emperor was Emperor of China from 1521 to 1567, the 11th emperor of the Ming dynasty. Born Zhu Houcong, he was the Zhengde Emperor's cousin. His era name means "Admirable tranquility".-Early years:As the nephew of the Hongzhi Emperor, Jiaqing was not brought up to succeed to the throne...
(1522-1566). During the Qing dynasty, thousands of academies were created for the purpose of preparing students for the Imperial Examination, although there were still some that functioned as centres of study and research.
The academies were finally abolished under the
Hundred Days' ReformThe Hundred Days' Reform was a failed 104-day national cultural, political and educational reform movement from 11 June to 21 September 1898 in late Qing Dynasty China. It was undertaken by the young Guangxu Emperor and his reform-minded supporters led by Kang Youwei...
in 1898 at the end of the Qing dynasty.
There were more than 7,000 academies recorded. In the late Qing dynasty, some became universities, middle schools, public libraries and museums.
In Korea, which also adopted Confucianism, the
shuyuan were known as
SeowonSeowon were the most common educational institution of Korea during the mid- to late Joseon Dynasty. They were private institutions, and combined the functions of a Confucian shrine and a preparatory school. In educational terms, the seowon were primarily occupied with preparing students for the...
.
Shuyuan as a modern term
In the late Qing dynasty, schools teaching Western science and technology were established. Many such schools were called
Shuyuan in Chinese. Despite the common name, these
shuyuan are quite modern in concept and are quite different from traditional academies of classical learning.
Notable Academies
In discussing the
shuyuan, it is common to speak of the "Four Great Academies" (四大书院) of ancient China. Usually the "Four Great Academies" refers to the Four Great Academies of the Northern Song. However, sources give a number of different lists, sometimes expanded to Six or Eight Great Academies. Only one academy, the Yuelu Academy, appears in all lists. Each school went up or down the list in different periods.
White Deer Grotto AcademyThe White Deer Grotto Academy was located at the foot of Wulou Peak in Lushan, now in Jiujiang, Jiangxi province...
had long been an outstanding academy. As for the impact on the politics of China,
Donglin AcademyThe Donglin Academy , also known as the Guishan Academy , was originally built in A.D. 1111 during the Northern Song dynasty at present-day Wuxi in China...
in the
Ming DynastyThe Ming Dynasty , or Empire of the Great Ming , was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history," was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...
is especially notable.
The Four Great Academies
Also known as the Four Great Academies of the Northern Song or the Four Northern Song Academies.
- Songyang Academy
- Yingtianfu Academy
- Yuelu Academy
The Yuelu Academy is located on the east side of Yuelu Mountain in Changsha, the capital of Hunan province, China, on the west bank of the Xiang River....
- White Deer Grotto Academy
The White Deer Grotto Academy was located at the foot of Wulou Peak in Lushan, now in Jiujiang, Jiangxi province...
Sometimes the Shigu Academy is substituted for the Songyang Academy.
The Four Great Academies of the Early Song
- Shigu Academy
- Jinshan Academy
- Yuelu Academy
The Yuelu Academy is located on the east side of Yuelu Mountain in Changsha, the capital of Hunan province, China, on the west bank of the Xiang River....
- Culai Academy
Culai Academy or Culai Academy of Classical Learning was built by the Northern Song scholar Shi Jie during the time of his mourning...
- White Deer Grotto Academy
The White Deer Grotto Academy was located at the foot of Wulou Peak in Lushan, now in Jiujiang, Jiangxi province...
The Four Great Academies of the Southern Song
- Lize Academy
- Xiangshan Academy
- Yuelu Academy
- White Deer Grotto Academy
The Six Great Academies
- Songyang Academy
- Yingtianfu Academy
- Yuelu Academy
- White Deer Grotto Academy
plus
- Shigu Academy
- Maoshan Academy
(An alternative list of "Six Great Academies of the Northern Song" contains the same academies in a different order).
The Eight Great Academies of the Northern Song
- Shigu Academy
- Yingtianfu Academy
- Yuelu Academy
- White Deer Grotto Academy
- Songyang Academy
- Maoshan Academy
- Longmen Academy
- Culai Academy